"It's nice to know the truth is out but we're never going to get closure because we're still living with it", an Isle of Wight victim of the infected blood scandal has told the County Press, after a landmark inquiry ruled that 'systematic failures' had 'destroyed' lives.
Kevin Goddard, from Ryde, has faced decades of "uncertainty and worry" following a shock hepatitis C diagnosis when he was in his 20s.
The 56-year-old was among 5,000 people with haemophilia, and 30,000 people in total, who were exposed to diseases through contaminated blood products, between the 1970s and early 1990s.
Of those, around 3,000 have died.
Addressing victims and families earlier this week, Sir Brian Langstaff revealed the findings of a six year inquiry into the scandal.
It ruled there had been a “catalogue” of systemic, collective, and individual failures stretching from government to the NHS.
Upon hearing the news, Kevin said it "took a lot to hold the tears back", especially given years of "doors being closed", denials and knock backs from politicians.
"We knew from day one there was a cover up", he said.
"But for somebody who has been infected, or somebody who has a lost a loved one, you're never going to get closure because you're still living with it."
Kevin, who was diagnosed with haemophilia, a rare disorder in which blood does not clot normally, as a child, said his "horrendous" ordeal started in the early 90s.
During a tooth extraction he was given Factor VIII, a product for blood clotting. But from that day onwards, he felt ill and "knew something wasn't right".
Initially, health professionals did not know what was wrong and Kevin said attempts to help him even led to his gallbladder, unnecessarily, being removed.
A couple of years passed and when Kevin went to see his haematologist, he was given the "bombshell" news that he had hepatitis C.
Kevin's story, as told by the County Press in 2009. (Image: IWCP)
"Basically he said, it's a virus and it was in the Factor VIII and will probably kill you", he said.
"He said enjoy what time you have and take your family to Disneyland."
To this day, Kevin said the virus is dormant but he still gets days of exhaustion and has had years of "pain and torment".
"In the 90s, I had to go for hydrotherapy and the person in charge screamed at me across the swimming pool in front of other patients 'don't get in the pool, you're infectious'," he said.
"How does that make you feel? It's horrendous. It should never have happened".
He said it is a "relief" that the truth is now out there but "the fight still goes on". He thinks every person affected should get a personal letter apologising.
A compensation scheme for victims and families has also been announced by government.
But where there are so many categories, Kevin said it is difficult to claim.
"A lot of it is still up in the air", he said.
"As long as my family are looked after, the money doesn't matter".
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